the RPF 2011 Halloween Costume Contest

[Bizarro Lois]

There was nothing wrong with spreading the word and asking for votes, whether it was from non-members, people who registered just to vote, or a link in your signature. However, it was not wise to post about other entrants on Flickr, Tumbler, or anywhere else. "I'm neck and neck with so-and-so, please help me out," can be expected, but casting doubts on another person's work or disparaging comments are extremely poor form. I know this was brought up elsewhere in this thread, but I don't know if it was limited to one incident or if there were others.

 

[Flagwaver]

Coming from the Star Wars costuming clubs, I can understand the frustration of being picked second place over a person who purchased their costume in whole... especially when you spent a year to make your costume better than screen accurate. Or worse yet, purchasing a costume and claiming it as your own.

For that reason, I actually agree with Simul8r in that a WIP thread should be a requirement. Even if it is just a couple of pics showing the person sewing their costume. At least it can be subtle proof that the costume wasn't purchased or made by someone else.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

I know I am new to this forum, but not new overall. I have to say, I think it should be by members for members. Members only contest, voted on by the members. But that is just me.

 

[Master Dahark]

Who made theirs whole? I thought there was a rule that it wasn't allowed

 

[fleefromme]

i have to agree with Flagewaver, WIP pics are a great idea. they would make "stealing" a costume much harder. earlier in the contest it was suggested that there be two contests: one by voters and one by judges. i prefer this style, because it kind of a middle gound for both opinions.

 

[Art Andrews]

I am not aware of anyone who bought their costume "whole" this year. That happened last year and a few people were upset, but this year was something different.

 

[TeresaMRoberts]

I don't think anyone bought their costumes whole. I think Flag was just talking about past experiences elsewhere and how easily it is to get frustrated. Some costumes do look professional so I can see how people might think that. But I think most of the talk is just about preventing that type of behavior on future contests.

 

[Master Dahark]

(just went back and read the ranting back and forth- sorry I'm late for this party)

Oh to hell with it-- you're right, you can't please everyone. People need to remember this was a FREE contest- if you win, YAY, if not, you're no worse than you were. Some contests charge an entry fee!

 

[aelynn000]

Pokeman, Bizarro and anyone else considering the issue of posting in other online communities, I just want to apologize to anyone offended by my comments. I didn't intend for them to be disparging at all, I was simply voicing a thought of a possibility, not even jumping to conclusions or making assumptions or accusations, just a tiny '/I/ think/don't think...' And the only reason I mentioned these thoughts at all was because as an entrant, I was simply comparing my work made entirely by myself, to others which I personally did not know about. Again, it was intended as a personal thought and not a tactic to paint any other competitor in a negative light.

I should have just kept my mouth shut and now I know to, but I really did not mean any ill intent by voicing my thoughts on a personal blog that I only have 50 Disney-fan friendships and sites on...( just a little geeky lol ) I'm by no means a super blogger making internet headlines with a cult following, so I thought nothing of it.

I /really/ did not expect to be lurked out in any other places I'm active in, especially a personal blog, and have my thoughts spread like gossip and blown out of proportion.

In the end, I think it's important to remember that no matter how much social networking or vote seeking there is, people still have to register which is a bonus for the board and once those people are here, they have more than ample free will and decision making skills to cast their votes for whoever they want to, anonymously. We can direct them here, but the voting decision is ultimately up to each individual.

Again, sorry if my thoughts offended anyone, I'll be more careful in the future.

 

[sirbrad]

Thanks for proving my point. This is what I am talking about, there needs to be set judges not member voting, and popularity and sympathy contests. You should not have to "work hard" on getting votes a costume should speak for itself, and you should not have to try and manipulate others to vote for you when normally they do not even care. I didn't ask anyone to vote for me on facebook or forums otherwise I could have won too. But I have integrity and pride in my work and I don't need to try and force people to vote for me. This is not supposed to be a contest of who can get the most people to vote. But that is exactly what it was.

Also resorting to trashing someone else's costume and claiming they did not make it, and that their bf did should be totally unacceptable. Yet the RPF rewarded all this behavior. Pretty sad. The only people "mistaken" were the people who assumed no one would try and take advantage of said loopholes. But whatever, I am done with the topic. I will just stay out of the contest next year and not waste my time if it is based on peer vote begging, it is that simple.

OMFG!!! Am I reading this right? You miss Aelynn are a piece of work, the only contest that you won, is the contest on who can ***** the most votes on blogs and who can disgrace the RPF female contest the most. Its funny how someone can get about 30 votes in a matter of a few hours in the last hours of the contest. It was really quite amusing to watch. The mens contest did not experience the same sharp increase in votes during the last few hours. I wonder why that is?



Observe ladies and gentlemen screen clippings from her blog........








I was introduced to your blog after I heard that you were making disparaging comments about our costume. The stark contrast in ideals was really quite fascinating.

 

[simul8r]

Thanks for proving my point. This is what I am talking about, there needs to be set judges not member voting, and popularity and sympathy contests. You should not have to "work hard" on getting votes a costume should speak for itself, and you should not have to try and manipulate others to vote for you when normally they do not even care. I didn't ask anyone to vote for me on facebook or forums otherwise I could have won too. But I integrity and pride in my work and I don't need to try and force people to vote for me. This is not supposed to be a contest of who can get the most people to vote. But that is exactly what it was.

I'm siding with sirbrad here, when I first came across RPF I was amazed by the work produced by a lot of talented artist here. Some of whom offered, free of charge, not only their tremendous amount of work of pep files but also their thankless tutorials for others to enjoy. All they ask was that their work and the work of their fellow peers receive the respect and recognition they each deserve and that others don’t abused this. All those who opposed were dealt with bitterly within the community. And from what I’ve seen reading through these forums…that trust was tight! That says a lot of the members here and the people of RPF who back them up on this. But upon entering into this contest and I was told that I must persuade others to vote on my own work (costume) in order to win, well, that was not how I decided to register as member with RPF in the first place. It was all about that talent and experience I admired and the inspiration these particular individuals offered that made it possible for me to come up with my own, scratch built personalized costume that won me but 2 contests, monetary prizes and the admiration of many people in my area. These talented people of RPF didn’t persuade me to join, I persuaded myself and this is how I expect my skills, and my talent upon entering into the contest to hopefully do the same and not beg for it…there is just no skill in that. I trust a lot of artist’s here feel and expect the same.
Further, I understand the idea of promoting RPF for the purpose of sprucing up memberships, well, that’s what I did prior to the abuse earlier in the contest. I ‘persuaded’ others to come to RPF to witness all these amazing costumes, that by self would have inspired others to join as it did for me.

 

[familyman]

I entered my costume in two competitions, politly asked my friends and family to vote for me, and then left it to the fates. In both competitions there has been cheating, misleading and under handed dealings going on. I am proud of the 1 0r 2 votes I got, because they were deserved, the people who voted for me did so honestly. How do I know that? simply because I have more then 1 or 2 friends and family members and yet only recieved that many votes. This is the first time I have ever entered a costume competition and it has left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope we can have judges in the future, judges who can vote on the end result and maybe take into consideration the building of the costume aswell.
On this forum and the GBfans website some people who I thought we good people have shown their true colours I believe, even when apologising (which seems like they are only doing because they got found out) there apologies seem to be misleading and trying to make a joke of it and make excuses. just my two sense.

 

[Shylaah]

>>>clip<<<
On this forum and the GBfans website some people who I thought we good people have shown their true colours I believe, even when apologising (which seems like they are only doing because they got found out) there apologies seem to be misleading and trying to make a joke of it and make excuses. just my two sense.

Beautifully and well said, familyman.

How can one be surprised that others saw things that were posted in public places, blogs and other forums?

Shylaah

 

[tim]

Yikes. I was just admiring the awesome costume pics and missed all this drama until just now. I have to agree with others that opening up the voting (and entries) to non-members seems to introduce more headache than it's worth. To that end, I think entrants need to be members who made (or had a significant role in making) the costumes that they are wearing (with an obvious exception for the kids' costumes).

Personally, I think the costumes should garner votes on their own merits without a lot of self-promotion, but I see it as a big sin to promote your hard work either--within reason.

 

[Badmonkey]

I would just like to say thanks to the RPF team for all the hard work this year. I had tons of fun making my costume and it was nice to have a contest to enter where I wasn't up against a can of spam and a sexy nurse!

And congratz to everyone! The entries were awesome this year!

 

[Bizarro Lois]

There are some costumes that I know who the users were, but would everyone be willing to post which was theirs? It would be nice to put a user name(and possibly a face) to each costume.

 

[LadyMegatron]

Whoa. I missed a lot.


Kinda glad I did...but just reading back a page and not the whole thing, and seeing what Lois said, yeah, Lois, I'm willing to show which ones were mine and also WIP pictures that show where I worked on them and my son working on them too, to prove they are my work, if that's the issue here. Not sure if it is, because like I said, I came in really late on this. Been rather busy the past few days...

 

[Master Dahark]

There are some costumes that I know who the users were, but would everyone be willing to post which was theirs? It would be nice to put a user name(and possibly a face) to each costume.

I was Scorpion (#49)

 

[Eveningarwen]

I was Gem #11 in the female and my fiance who is Badmonkey above was #53 Castor. Both were from Tron and we have a build thread here:

http://www.therpf.com/f24/castor-gem-tron-tutorial-step-step-photos-pic-heavy-131753/

I don't think Bizarro Lois was saying that anyone wanted proof that people made their costume but just thought it'd be nice to know in general and look at some of them in more detail. I know I for one was thinking that'd be nice to know as well!

 

[booksandcorsets]

I would love to see build threads for the contest entrants. And that's very in keeping with the idea behind this community, right? The sharing of knowledge.